Archaeologists have discovered a rare monument of early Christianity in southern France — the ruins of a 5th-century cathedral and a uniquely preserved baptistery have been found under the market square in the town of Vence.
Excavations carried out by the Nice Archaeological Service and the Regional Cultural Affairs Department have revealed a complex about 30 metres long, linked to six centuries of Christian history. The central find was a baptistery with an original baptismal font, preserved without later alterations. Inside the cathedral, archaeologists also discovered about 30 burials of clergy dating back to the early Middle Ages.
According to experts, such discoveries occur in Europe once every half a century. The authorities have decided to integrate the find into the modern urban space: a transparent floor will be installed in the renovated shopping halls above the baptistery, and an exhibition with fragments of the apse and burials will be opened nearby.
The discovery confirms the antiquity of the bishopric of Vence and provides a rare opportunity to study the spread of Christianity in Provence. Archaeologists call the find ‘a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.’
